The latest date the card could have been produced wasPresidential Election Day, November 3, 1908.

The earliest date the card could have been mailed was December 1, 1908,although it was probably mailed late spring/early summer 1909.

This image of the back of the card showing its postmark indicatesit was mailedAug. 14, 1909.

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Latest Date the Card Could Have Been Produced

The question about the latest date the postcard could have been produced was somewhat ambiguous, as pointed out by Charles Hagler, Reference Librarian at the Library of Michigan:

I did say the picture on the card was of Main Street, Rushville, Nebraska, 1908 but maybe I misunderstood you when you said produced, are you talking about the manufacturing of the postcard or when the photograph was shot? ....My 1915 date was from when they stop manufacturing that style of postcard.

Charles Hagler Reference Librarian Library of Michigan Lansing, MI

We actually meant the latest date the picture on the card could have been taken. Based on this interpretation, we offer the following information.

William Jennings Bryan's 1908 Candidacy for President

The banner "Bryan's Head Quarters" on the clothing store relates to William Jennings Bryan's third and last unsuccessful run for the Presidency in 1908. He was defeated by William Howard Taft. The latest date the picture on the card could have been taken is election day, November 3, 1908. Presumably the Headquarters was dismantled shortly after Bryan lost the election, and the building reverted back to a clothing store.

Some readers guessed that the headquarters was related to one of Bryan's other campaigns, either in 1896 or 1900, or that the headquarters belonged to his younger brother Charles Wayland Byran, who served as the mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska, and who ran several times (successfully and unsuccessfully) for Governor of the state. But the picture on the posters in the headquarters' windows is the same as the one featured in Wikipedia's article on William Jennings Bryan taken in 1907 athttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Jennings_Bryan#1900-1912:_on_the_Chautauqua_circuit This rules out Bryan's earlier campaigns and any of his brother's.

William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) was an American lawyer, statesman, and politician. He was a three-time Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States noted for his deep, commanding voice. Bryan was a devout Presbyterian, a strong proponent of popular democracy, an outspoken critic of banks and railroads, a leader of the silverite movement in the 1890s, a dominant figure in the Democratic Party, a peace advocate, a prohibitionist, an opponent of Darwinism, and one of the most prominent leaders of the Progressive Movement. He was called "The

Clarance Darrow and William Jennings Bryan during the Scopes Money Trial, 1925

Great Commoner" because of his total faith in the goodness and rightness of the common people.

He was one of the most energetic campaigners in American history, inventing the national stumping tour. In his presidential bids, he promoted Free Silver in 1896, anti-imperialism in 1900, and antitrust in 1908, calling on all Democrats to renounce conservatism, fight the trusts and big banks, and embrace progressive ideas. President Woodrow Wilson appointed him Secretary of State in 1913, but Bryan resigned in protest against Wilson's policies in 1915. In the 1920s he was a strong supporter of Prohibition, but is probably best known today for his negative criticism of Darwinism, which culminated in the Scopes Trial in 1925. Read more about William Jennings Bryan at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Jennings_Bryan#1900-1912:_on_the_Chautauqua_circuit

Charles Wayland Bryan was the younger brother of William Jennings Bryan. Bryan served as mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska from 1915 to 1917, and again from 1935 to 1937. He also served as Governor of Nebraska from 1923 to 1925 and again from 1931 to 1935. He was an unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1926, 1928, and 1938. If the headquarters were those of Charles (and not William), the card would have had to have been taken before 1938. Since he was not from Rushville but from Linclon; there would be no reason to have a Bryan "Head Quarters" in Rushville unless it was for a statewide office like Governor. Assuming the headquarters was that of Charles Wayland Bryan, the latest date the postcard could have been produced would be 1938. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Wayland_Bryan.

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Earliest Date the Card Could Have Been Mailed

There were several answers that were given by our readers about the earliest date the card could have been mailed, based on the patent for the Ferris wheel, the date of the 1908 Democratic National Convention where Jennings Bryan was nominated for president, depending on when Rushville's electrical power plant was built, or when it first had telephones. (See more info below on these items.)

The correct earliest date is given by the stamp in the upper right hand corner of the back. According to http://www.1847usa.com/washfrank/1cFranklinQuickChart.htm, QuickChart: Franklin Head One Cent Stamps, Series of 1908, it is Scott #331 or Scott #331a. The stamp can be identified as either of these kinds by its various shades of green, and by the 12 perforations that appear on each side. The Scott #331 has yellow green and the #331a does not, but it is hard for me to distinguish

which color scheme is present without pictures of both stamps to compare ours to. The Scott #331a stamp was sold in booklet form, so that a #331a would be perforated differently along its edges depending on its position in the book. Another way of telling the #331 from the #331a would be to examine its watermark, but without being able to physically examine the stamp, this is impossible to do.

Aside from providing an exact earliest date according to the type of stamp used, the message on the postcard indicates that at the earliest, it was probably mailed several months later. Based on the writer's comment that "The rain ruined all my hay on Rush Creek," the earliest date is pushed back to late spring or early summer 1909 after the next hay harvest.

Divided Back Era (1907-1914)Postcards with a divided back were permitted March 1, 1907. The address to be written on the right side and the left side was for writing messages. Many millions of cards were published in this era. Up to this point most postcards were printed in Germany which was far ahead of this country in the lithographic processes. With the advent of World War I the supply of postcards had to come from England and the United States.

White Border Era (1915-1930)Most of our postcards were printed in the USA during this period. To save ink, a border was left around the view thus we call them "White Border" cards. High cost of labor, inexperience and public taste caused production of poor quality cards. High competition in a narrowing market caused many publishers to go out of business.

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Clues from Other Photographs of Rushville Point to 1908

Another early view of the west side of Main Street. The building to theright with the pointed top was the location of the Pudelko store. To the left of it is a merchantile store and furniture store (also seen in our quiz picture). The electric plant was built in 1910 and telephone service started in 1913, so this photo would date from around that time. However, I have seen photos from 1908 that show power poles as well, so the poles might date to a few years before that.

An early view of the west side of Main Street, looking south. To the right is the Stockman's Hotel (aka Evans Hotel, and the Pfister Hotel prior to that - visible in our quiz picture). The building with the pointed top is now the Pedelko Store (originally the Ben Franklin 5 & 10, also visible in the quiz photo). See www1.cedar-rapids.net/hindman/RUSHVILL.HTM for more vintage pictures of Rushville.

"Buffalo Bill" Cody headquartered in Rushville when he was hiring talent on the reservation for his wild west shows. Cody paid the Indians in script that was redeemable only at the Asay Store while the performers were in Rushville. Cody always stayed with the Asay family when in Rushville. (It has been said that Cody entertained Mrs. Asay on picnics at the Niobrara River while Mr. Asay tended the store.) In later years, Cody returned to Rushville to film a re-enactment of the "Battle of Wounded Knee." The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation continues to be a major part of the Rushville economy.

So Possibly, the store with the Jennings banner, may be the ASAY store- and the show may be the Buffalo Bill show? Although I’m not sure he would have had the “Electric Show” etc., but it’s an intriguing possibility. Mary Fraser

The C.E. who sent the card may be Clarissa (Clara) Walgreen Evans, who was a Rex Evans' a farmer, wife in Rushville 1930 census.

I can see what look to be power wires going to the building to the left of the Electric Theatre and to the Bryan Headquarters building I can't be sure they are power lines or telephone lines. I doubt that telegraph lines would be going to every building especially during this time frame when Marconi and gang were working on wire telegraphy. Remember the Titanic and David Sarnoff receiving the news of the Titanic sinking in New York from the wireless on board the rescue ship in April 1912. I wish I could see the campaign poster clearer to see if it is William Jennings Bryan's mug shot on the poster. His brother Charles always seem to have bow ties on, whereas William's pictures show him in regular ties.

The patent was issued April 16, 1918. With all this in mind. It is possible that the photo was taken in 1922 or so which would explain the dress, the Ferris Wheel and the Political headquarters. Evidently, prior to the telephone popularity, postcards were huge. It is possible that someone had some of the Franklin 1 centers and since Gordon and Rushville were next to one another the postcard was sent just to use up the stamp on a current postcard. I could not get the word "infantry" on the card as it was addressed to Miss. Could the word have been infancy?

Thats MY story and I'm stickin to it. LOL I spent way too much time diggin on this one. Fun tho. Still could not find out anything on Nora the Phillipino Wild Girl.Jim Kiser

I had a lot of fun with it. My husband Bill worked for the IHS at Pine Ridge, 1973-75, so he knew Rushville and Hays Springs very well. I found out about the stamps through Google, too. I have a slew of sisters and nieces and nephews who love history so I have sent the puzzle site to them. Don't be surprised to see some Bates and Bethea responses, as well as Laughlin, Longest, and Corhern. Judy Bethea

The sign that intrigues me is the "Wild Girls" one with Nora Phillipino - I wonder who she is? Googling her name turns up nothing, but using "nora filipino" turns up lots of links to a current porn star. Randy Seaver

Colleen, Wow, this was a surprise! You are very kind and can make a person feel so good. I really didn't think I would be right, but your email just made my evening. I thought about the quiz off and on today and really expected this to be the loosing one. I wanted to find the Electric Theater and Nora Phillipino/Wild Girls, but there just wasn't anything, even under sideshows or circuses. I thought that would set a time. Did you find anything on either of them?

There were so many views of Rushville, I feel like a resident. I read somewhere that William Jennings Bryan had started the practice of speaking from railroad cars on his campaigns, so I tried to connect that with Rushville being a railroad town. I just couldn't identify the stamp and today I read in the Ancestry magazine of a website for stamp identifying. That may have helped. So many possibilities to decipher, but along the way I always seem to learn a lot and you are so right about people's lives frozen in time in these pictures. That is something I never paid the slightest attention to and since working with genealogy, and examining your quizzes, I enjoy looking at all pictures for what I can learn from the background as well as the people. Eva Royal

If you have a picture you'd like us to feature a picture in a future quiz, please email it to us at CFitzp@aol.com. If we use it, you will receive a free analysis of your picture. You will also receive a free Forensic Genealogy CD or a 10% discount towards the purchase of the Forensic Genealogy book.